David Wohlberg

History

2005-06: David Wohlberg compiled 104 points (34 goals, 70 assists) as his team, Honeybaked of the Midwest Elite Hockey League, won the Michigan AAA state title.

2006-07: Wohlberg had a strong season for the U-17 squad, finishing second on the team in points (31), tied for third in goals (15), and tied for third in assists (16).  He also led the team in PIM with 147, and was a force on the power play, finishing in the top five on the team in power play goals with 6.

2007-08: Wohlberg played in six games with the U-17 team, dominating the play with six points (five goals, one assist).  Wohlberg joined the U-18 team and played in 53 games, once again leading his team in PIM with 71, to go along with 25 points (14 goals, 11 assists).  NHL Central Scouting ranked  Wohlberg 172nd overall for the draft and strangely enough, that is where Wohlberg was selected in the sixth round by New Jersey.

2008-09: As a freshman at the University of Michigan, Wohlberg posted fantastic overall numbers. After starting the season on the checking line, he was give a promotion to the top line, and ended up as one of the top-scoring rookies in the CCHA. With 15 goals and 15 assists in 40 games, Wohlberg finished fourth overall in team scoring and quickly established himself as one of the top Wolverine forwards. He played a lot of wing this past season as well, adding a bit of versatility to his game. The Michigan native won CCHA Offensive Player of the Week honors in the first week of December and that eventually helped him capture the CCHA’s Rookie of the Month award for that month as well.

2009-10: David’s sophomore season brought 10 goals and 17 assists and a CCHA Championship.

2010-11: Wohlberg was one of three Devils’ draft picks to skate for the University of Michigan and was the Wolverine’s second-leading goal scorer as a junior. Wohlberg scored 15 goals with 6 assists and was plus-3 with 42 PMs in 37 games as the Wolverines finished first in the CCHA for the second straight season. Wohlberg’s post-season run was cut short when he suffered a season-ending collar bone injury in Michigan’s first CCHA playoff game against Bowling Green. The Wolverines reached the Frozen Four championship game before falling to Minnesota-Duluth in overtime.

2011-12: Wohlberg made his pro hockey debut skating in six games for the AHL’s Albany Devils following his senior season at the Universiy of Michigan. He scored his first career goal in his second game, against the Providence Bruins, and was plus-one. Wohlberg tied Stars’ prospect Alex Guptill for the scoring lead with Michigan (both scored 16 goals with 17 assists in 41 games) and was plus-16 with 30 penalty minutes. The Wolverines finished second in the CCHA and earned an at-large NCAA bid after advancing to the CCHA championship game against Western Michigan.

2012-13: Wohlberg skated in 36 games for New Jersey’s AHL affiliate in Albany in his first pro season. Caught in a glut of veteran forwards with the club during the NHL lockout and then suffering an upper body injury in January that kept him out of the lineup for almost a month, Wohlberg began to see more ice time in the final two months of the season – when he accumulated seven of his nine points. He finished the year with 4 goals and 5 assists and was plus-1 with 26 penalty minutes. Albany missed the AHL playoffs after finishing fourth in the Northeast Division.

2013-14: Wohlberg skated in 62 of 75 games for Devils AHL affiliate Albany in his second pro season. Playing in primarily a checking line role he scored 5 goals with 7 assists and was plus-1 with 41 penalty minutes. Albany finished second in the Northeast Division and lost to eventual Calder Cup finalist St. John’s in a first-round playoff series. Wohlberg appeared in one playoff game, finishing with no points nor penalties. Tendered a qualifying offer by the Devils in June, Wohlberg signed an AHL contract with Albany in August 2014. 

Talent Analysis

Wohlberg is a versatile player, capable of playing the wing or center. His speed is his major standout tool, which combined with his tenacity, makes him very effective as a fore-checker. He possesses tremendous two-way skills and is one of the more well-rounded prospects in the organization. Over his four years at the University of Michigan he evolved into a useful offensive player, using his speed to drive hard to the net and create chances for himself and his linemates. Wohlberg battles hard in-front of the net and shows no fear going to the dirty areas to fight for loose pucks.

Future

Wohlberg is skating for New Jersey Devils affiliate Albany on an AHL contract in 2014-15. With minor league veterans such as Joe Whitney, Scott Timmins, and Paul Thompson leading the way — and a glut of forwards with the parent club — he has seen limited ice time to start the season, mostly in a bottom-six role. The Devils organization has shown an affinity for prospects coming out of the University of Michigan in recent years. But like defenseman and former second round pick Brandon Burlon, another former Wolverine, it doesn't appear that Wohlberg will be with the parent club any time soon.